Nissan joins Uber for air quality project in London

The carmaker has supplied a fleet of 20 all-electric Nissan Leafs to Uber for use as part of an extensive EV trial. It is the first time pure EVs have been available for hire through the Uber app in London.ETAuto | August 31, 2016, 22:13 IST

LONDON: Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Company joins hands with car hailing service Uber as it embarks on a new, major electric vehicle (EV) project as part of its commitment to tackling air pollution in London and across the UK.

The carmaker has supplied a fleet of 20 all-electric Nissan Leafs to Uber for use as part of an extensive EV trial in the capital that gets underway on Wednesday. It is the first time pure EVs have been available for hire through the Uber app in London.

"We are delighted to be working closely with Uber on what is a very exciting project that could ultimately lead to major improvements in air quality in London and across the UK," said Gareth Dunsmore, head of Electric Vehicles, Nissan Europe.

"We are confident this trial will prove a success and that Uber will join scores of taxi and private hire operators across the UK and wider Europe in recognising the financial and environmental benefits of Nissan's market-leading electric vehicles. With the impact of poor air quality remaining a cause for concern, the trial could prove to be a pivotal moment for tackling the challenges in London."

Already 60 percent of Uber journeys in London are made in hybrid vehicles, but the company is keen to explore the environmental and economic benefits of going fully electric ahead of the introduction of the capital's Ultra Low Emissions Zone in 2020.

"People already associate Uber with hybrid cars, but we now want to go a big step further with fully electric cars on the road from today," said Jo Bertram, regional general manager of Uber in the UK.

"We are determined to use technology to help tackle the challenge of air pollution in London and across the UK. Our car-sharing service has already saved 1.2 million miles and 211 metric tonnes of CO2. With electric vehicles - and more people sharing their journey and leaving their own cars at home - there's even more we can do."

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